Animation

Here is some information to get you started with animation.
If you would like support to get this happening in your class, contact Cathy Blackburn at blackburn.catherine.c@edumail.vic.gov.au
Dianne Wilson at Chirnside Park PS has a great deal of experience using Claymation with Grade 6 students.

Many examples of Claymation or clay animation can be found online especially on Teachertube.
Try these links to view some samples:
http://teachertube.com/searchList.php?search_type=video&tags=claymation
http://teachertube.com/searchList.php?search_type=video&tags=clay%20animation

Logistics / organisational considerations:
This will vary greatly from class to class.
Factors to consider are:

• the physical layout of your classroom - ideal to be able to set aside a zone that can be left undisturbed
• the amount of equipment you have - determines how many groups can operate concurrently
• group size - three is probably optimal so that all students can be simultaneously engaged in various taskes such as storyboarding, figurine creation, scenery creation, figurine manipulation, photographing, narration, editing
• age of students - Level 3 is generally the youngest age you would attempt this with - obviously the younger the student, the more complex and time-consuming the task will become
  

Storyboarding process:
This process should be a prerequisite to commencing the artistic and technical processes.
This step provides for the literacy component in developing the story
Here are a couple of templates which may assist your students in this process


Artistic process:
Plasticine figurines should be approx. 10-15 cms to allow enought size to create many distinct poses so that movement can be simulated readily


Materials required:
If you are creating clay figures, you will need:

• plasticine in various colours
• wire for skeletons on which to mould platicine (optional)
• eyes (available from craft stores)
• craft paper for background scenery
• cardboard boxes in which to house scenery
• fishing twine to enable objects to rise, fly, etc relatively undetectable

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Technical process:
Factors to consider while collecting still photos:

• as this may be done over a series of sessions, you will need to ensure that light and positioning of equipment are identical on each occasion
• use an artificial light source
• use masking tape to mark positioning of camera and scenery (set) - where possible don't move set at all during whole process so you only have to position the camera

A few different software products are available to assist you in collecting, sequencing and timing the frames for your animation.
One such program is Monkeyjam, a free download from
http://www.brothersoft.com/monkeyjam-63770.html
Here is a document that provides instructions for using Monkeyjam
Monkey Jam

Another such program is Stop Motion Pro.
Find out more at http://www.stopmotionpro.com/index.php
Stop Motion Pro can be is not freeware; it can be purchased from:
Educational and student sales can be made via:
Edsoft Australia

Software time

CD-Soft
Go Motion Studios (Victoria - also runs training programs)

Harvey_Norman_retail.jpg

Officeworks

All product purchases are possible in their online store:

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Details of how to use Stop Motion Pro are covered in this document:

Alternatively students can create their animation solely using Windows Moviemaker (already on your laptop and school desktops) as well as add titles and credits and audio.
The following document provides instructions for using Moviemaker

If you would like to incorporate sound effects such as animal/bird sounds, thunder, rain, etc. there are a number of sites you can obtain free sound effects, such as:

www.stonewashed.net/sfx.html
www.a1**freesoundeffects**.com/
www.partnersinrhyme.com/pir/PIRsfx.shtml
www.videomaker.com/downloads/**free**-**sound**-**effects**/
www.pacdv.com/**sound**s/index.html